Traveling by Jeep, boat and foot, Tribune-Review investigative reporter Carl Prine and photojournalist Justin Merriman covered nearly 2,000 miles over two months along the border with Mexico to report on coyotes — the human traffickers who bring illegal immigrants into the United States. Most are Americans working for money and/or drugs. This series reports how their operations have a major impact on life for residents and the environment along the border — and beyond.

The Shaler varsity baseball team has a new look this season as much of last year's squad has graduated, leaving a slew of raw but talented players to pick up the team.

Searching for its first win of the season, Shaler headed to Plum to face an undefeated team. The game was played in slightly above freezing conditions.

The only things that were hot that afternoon were the bats, and although Plum got its share of hits, Shaler got a few more and edged the Mustangs, 10-8.

“We are a very young team, and this was our first win of the season,” Shaler coach Brian Junker said. “We are don't care about the wins now; we are trying to prepare for section play.”

Junker was pleased to get the first win of the young season. After trailing Plum, 2-0, then 4-2, Shaler scored six runs in the top of the fifth for a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Down by two runs, third baseman Jimmy Hughes knocked a bases-clearing double to tie the score at 2. Hughes nabbed an unassisted double play in the bottom of that frame to keep the game close.

Justin Mazza hit an RBI double in the top of the fourth before Shaler kicked the game open in the top of the fifth.

Hughes took a walk followed by an RBI double from Matt Carter, then another RBI double by Anthony Zelina.

Sammy Ireland knocked in a run with his single, and Andrew Muller hit a three-run double to keep the pressure on Plum. Hughes knocked in another run before the inning ended, and Shaler led, 10-4, with two innings to play.

Plum made one last surge, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Junker went to Ireland, a freshman, to close the game. He didn't disappoint.

Ireland struck out three batters, and although one reached base due to an error, he showed his mettle in a tough situation.

“My team was yelling at me, and that just motivated me,” Ireland said. “I hope this win gives us the momentum we need heading into section play.

“We have been hitting pretty good. We just have some trouble reading fly balls, and we have to clean up the little errors.”

Junker said the win was not pretty, but he'll take it as a confidence booster for a team that played hard.

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